Electric socket



c. v. DAME ELECTRIC SOCKET Feb. 7, 1939.

Filedv Sept. 28, 1955 Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE Application September 6 Claims.

tric sockets.Vr

One object of the invention is to provideV asocket for an electric light bulb or the like which y locks the -bulb against turning and becoming loose in the socket during use but which can readilyy be removed for replacement when desired. Thus the socket is of advantage where the lamp is subjected to vibrations which result 10,V in loose contacts with resultant ilickering or extinguishment of the light as on air planes, trains, automobiles, or other vehicles or on or adjacent heavy machines which set up vibrations during operation, or in electric signs or street lights lafwhich frequently work loose in the sockets due to rvibrations imposed by street cars, trucks and othervvehicles. The elimination of loose lamps and consequent arcing at the lamp terminals n alsorenders the lampof advantage in mines, for example, where arcingk may result in an-explosion ofv accumulated gas. f

Another object of -the invention is to provide a switch which preferably, although not necessarily, is built into the socket, the switch con'- -tacts being sealed within a chamber to exclude external air or to retain an inert gas if desired to render safe the openingV or closing of a circuit in an ,explosive atmosphere, as in a gas-choked coal mine; for example. l

Other objects of the invention relate to various features of construction andV arrangement of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l .is an elevation of a combined lamp socket and switch embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is an enlargedsectional View taken of Figure 2.

In the drawing I0 is a tubular metal support-V ing member to the forward endof which is secured a bellows II as by means offa flange IIa. vFlange IIa forms an airor gas tight connection with the member I0. The forward end of the bellows is provided with a wall |2-which carries a cup-shaped central portion I3 shown as provided with an annular flange I4 which supports and forms an air tight connection with an insulating bushing I5. Tightly secured in the bushing is a conducting member I6, the inner end I1 of which forms a contact member, and the outer end I8 of which constitutes a terminal for'makingcontact Vwith the terminal of an elec- 28, 1935,? Serial No.' 42,564

(Cl. 17E-346)' tric plug orllampf|9=or other like current consumingy device.

'Iheiace of4 theterminal |8`is formed to provide interlockingengagement with the terminal ofthe contacting member such as the terminal 200i thev lamp I9: In the form shown the face of the terminal I8 is knurled or milled as is also the terminal 2070iy the-lamp base. I'hus when thenterminals Illand`v 20'are in contact rotation of the lamp ,'isprevented.

Mounted onthe tubey I0 ris a cup-shaped shield 2| whichfis heldinfposition by a conducting plate 22 and a--nut23screw threaded on the tube. The'shield 2| which preferably is ci insulating material such as Bakelite for example, is provided with' a number of guiding channels 24, three of which are shown, see Figure 3. Slidably positioned on the exterior of the shield 2| is a casingf25`which is `provided with interior ribs 26 slidably disposed ywithin the channels 21|. The coacting` ribs and channels Vprevent relative rotation'of'the casing 25 with respect to the shield 2 l Theforward end 21 of the casing 25 has a central -opening 28 therein aligned with which is a socket receptacle 29 which is secured to the wall 21 by means of screws 30 passing through a flange 3|. Whilefascrew socket is illustrated, it will be obviousthatother types of sockets may be employed, if desired.

A spring 32 is anchored to the plate 22 as by extendingan` end into a hole v33, and bears at itsupper end against the flange 3| and has its upper free end disposed in engagement with a loop 34 formed integral with the flange. 'Ihe respective ends of the spring may, if desired, be welded or soldered to the plate 22 and the ilange 3| to provide suitable electrical connections with the same. The spring 32 vsurrounds the bellows II and exerts tension which tends to move the casing 25 `to the right as viewed in Figure 2. The force exerted by the spring 32 is suiclent to overcomeL the tendency of the bellows I I to expand in the opposite direction and hence when a lamp, for example, is in position in the socket receptacle 29 as shown in Figure 2, the spring holdsthe contacts at the t-eminals I 8 and 20 together. Due to the interlocking engagement of the terminals as above described, rotation of the lamp in a direction to separate the terminals and cause arcing at the same or ilickering ci the light, is prevented.

Extending through the tube I0 is a conductor 35 having a terminal 36 at itsr inner end which is adapted to contact with terminal of the members I6. The conductor 35 is positioned Ythe spring 32.

in an insulating sleeve 31 which insulates the conductor 35 from the tube I0, the sleeve forming air tight contact with both the tube and the conductor.

A switch operating member 38 of cup-shape and in eect forming a portion of the casing of the device, is rotatably mounted on the tube I8 and held in position between the nut 23 and a nut 39 which is threaded on the tube I0 and abuts shoulder 4I) of the tube. The member 38 can thus be rotated on the tube I 0. The diameter of the member 38 preferably is the same as the diameter of the casing section 25 and abuts the same as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The edge of the member 25 is provided with teeth or extensions 4I forming inclined planes which ncrmally seat in correspondingly shaped recesses 42 formed in the adjacent edge of the member 38. It will thus be seen that by rotating the member 38 to the right as viewed Vin Figure 1, the casing 25 will be moved axially against the action of Such movement of the casing carrying with it the lamp I9 permits the bellows II to expand or distend to the left as viewed in Figure 2, and thus effect the separation of the terminals I1 and 36 to' open the circuit of the lamp.

Upon turning the member 38 to bring the respective members and recesses 4I and 42 into registration, the spring 32 will move the casing 25 to the right as viewed iny Figure 2, overcome the thrust of the bellows, and move the terminals l1 and 36 into contact to close the circuit.

When it is desired to remove a lamp from the socket the casing section 25 is moved manually to the left as viewed in Figure 2 against the action of the spring 32 a distance beyond the distensible action of the bellows II, thus effecting relative movement of the socket receptacle 29 within the cup-shaped member I3 and causing the terminal 28 of the lamp to move out of contact with the terminal I8. With the casing 25 and associate parts held in such position, the lamp can be removed and a new one placed in position. The

,Y spring 32 will thereafter move the parts into the position shown in Figure 2. Y v

A supporting bracket 43 is shown clamped upon the tube I0 between the insulating nut 39 and an insulating nut 44. On the outer end of the tube is shown a metal nut 45 to which one conductor 46, for supplying current to the device, is attached as by means of a screw 41. Another conductor 48 is shown attached by a screw 49 to the end of the conducting rod 35. An insulating shield 50 through which the conductors extend may be threadedly attached to the nut 44 to shield the upper ends of the conductors 46 and 48. The circuit through the device is thus established through conductor 48, rod conductor 35, conductor I6 to the terminal 2|] of the lamp, and thence through the shell or screw socket 29, flange 3l, spring 32, conducting plate 22, tube I0, nut 45 to the second conductor 46,

From the above it will be seen that the circuit of the lamp isl broken by effecting the separation of the terminals I'I and 3B and that these terminals are enclosed in the air tight chamber formed bythe bellows II and associated parts. If desired, the chamber may be lled with a suitable gas, such as nitrogen, to inhibit arcing at the make or break of the circuit.

When the casing section 25 is in the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the shield 2I prevents accidental contact with the interior conductors through the gap between the separated edges of the casing members 25 and 38.

It will be apparent that while the lamp terminal 20 and the conductor terminal I8 are held against separation due to vibration, arcing is effectually prevented therebetween.l Any arcing which should occur between the terminals I'I and 36 due to excessive vibration sufficient to overcome the tension of spring 32, will take place within the sealed chamber formed by the bellows. Such arcing and resulting impairment of the contacts I'I and 36 can be inhibited by charging the chamber with a gas, such as nitrogen, if desired. This arrangement thus provides a socket device comprising a switch which may be used safely in an explosive atmosphere such as in a gas iilled mine, for example,vwithout danger of explosion, f

While I have shown and described an embodiment of my improvements for the purpose of illustration, I do not wish to be restricted specifically thereto except as so limited by the appended claims. Y Y

I claim: I

1. A device of the class described comprising a sealed chamber having distensible side walls and a movable end Wall, a conductor `terminal in said chamber, a contact member carried by said end wall and arranged to contact with said terminal when said side walls are contracted and provided with an exterior terminal,V a receptacle adjacent said exterior terminal for receiving a current consuming element adapted to make electrical contact with said exterior terminal, and means for effecting the distension oi said side walls to effect the separation of said contact member and conductor terminal.

2. A combination lamp socket and circuitV interrupting device comprising a support, a sealedY chamber having a distensible Ywall supported thereby, a pair of cooperating electric circuit closing contacts in said chamber, one of said contact members having a portion extending exteriorly of said chamber, tension means for com-y pressing said member and retaining said contacts together, a terminal connected to said exterior portion of said contact, means for supporting the terminal end of a lamp in contact with said terminal, and means for releasing saidy tensioning means to enable said distensible member to distend and effect the separation of said contacts.

3. A circuit Vcontrolling device comprising av manually in opposition toV said compressing meansY to enable said sidewalls to distend and separate said contacts to open the circuit.

4. A device of the class described comprising a sealed chamber havingflexible bellows-like side walls, a pair of axially aligned contacts in said chamber having portionsv extending to the exterior thereof for connection in an electric circuit including a movable terminal of a current consuming device, a springacting on said chamber in a direction to compress the same and. Vmovesaid contacts into circuit closing relation and for moving said movable terminal into circuit closing relation with an exterior portion of one of said contacts, and manually operable means actuatable against the action of said spring to remove the tension of the same from said chamber to enable said Walls to distend and separate said contacts.

5. A circuit controlling device comprising a sealed chamber having inherently distensible side Walls and a movable end wall, a pair of cooperating circuit controlling contact members in said chamber having portions adapted to be connected in an exterior circuit, one of said contact members being carried by said end Wall and movable thereby into circuitopening or circuit closing position with respect to the other contact, a terminal for a current consuming device, resilient means acting on said terminal of said device tending to retain the same in contact with said movable contact and acting also on said chamber member to contract the same for effecting the disposition of said contacts in one of said circuit controlling positions, and means operable manually in opposition to said contracting means for enabling said chamber member to distend and move said movable contact into the other circuit controlling position.

6. A 'device of the class described comprising a closed chamber forming member having distensible side walls and a movable end Wall, a pair of cooperating contact members in said chamber for controlling an electric circuit, one of said contact members being carried by and movable with said end wall and provided with a terminal at the outer end, said side walls having an inherent tendency to distend to separate said contacts, an outlet receptacle adjacent said terminal for receiving a terminal of a current consuming element, a movable support for said receptacle, means for moving said support in a direction tending to retain said terminals in contact and to compress said side walls to move said contacts together for closing the circuit of said element, and means for manually moving said support in opposition to said compressing means to enable said side Walls to distend to separate said contacts to open the circuit of said element.

CHARLES VANCE DAME. 

